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Melbourne / This week

What's on
4–10 June

Worth leaving the house for.

It's a King's Birthday long weekend and RISING's final curtain call, which means Melbourne is doing the most right now — festivals closing, AFL blockbusters stacking up, and the Winter Night Market settling in for its 13-week run. St Kilda Film Festival opens Thursday with a red-carpet gala at the Palais. Use Monday's public holiday to actually recover.

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Updated 4 June 2026 · Next update 10 June · Archived edition

If you only remember three things

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Live

St Kilda Film Festival 2026 — Opening Week

Nearly 200 Australian short films across the Palais, Astor, and St Kilda Town Hall, with Hugo Weaving, Sophie Wilde and Michael Cusack's live-action debut in the mix.

Sport

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs

Friday night footy at the MCG — a resurgent Bulldogs side tests Hawthorn under lights in what shapes as a finals-implications clash midway through the season.

Food & culture

Queen Vic Winter Night Market — Street Food

Wednesday nights from 5–10pm: lobster chowder bread bowls from Soup Factory, Berlin-style doner from Oh My Doner, and hot jam doughnuts from American Doughnut Kitchen.

If Thursday were mine…

I'd do this.

St Kilda Film Festival opening weekend, all three venues

The 2026 St Kilda Film Festival runs 4–14 June out of the Palais Theatre, Astor Theatre, and St Kilda Town Hall on Carlisle Street — 15 minutes from the CBD. Opening gala hits the Palais Thursday night; Friday it's St Kilda Rocks, a double-bill doco night on the suburb's legendary music venues. The Big Picture filmmaker development day on Saturday 6 June is entirely free — 42 panels and workshops at JMC Academy. Book individual sessions at stkildafilmfestival.com.au; prices vary by session.

Australia's best short films across three iconic St Kilda venues — red carpet Thursday, St Kilda Rocks Friday, packed programs Saturday and Sunday.

Before you leave home

The stuff you'll be annoyed nobody told you.

  • Monday 8 June is the King's Birthday public holiday — most venues will be open but check ahead; the Big Freeze at the MCG kicks off at 3:15pm so factor in transport.
  • RISING closes permanently on 8 June — if there's anything still on your list, this is your last chance.

The week, properly

The good stuff, with a reason.

Friends at a rooftop table with the city lights behind

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If you want a proper night out

  • St Kilda Film Festival 2026 — Opening WeekThu 4 – Wed 10 June · Varies / Free (Big Picture day Sat 6)Nearly 200 Australian short films across the Palais, Astor, and St Kilda Town Hall, with Hugo Weaving, Sophie Wilde and Michael Cusack's live-action debut in the mix.
  • RISING 2026 — Final WeekendThu 4 – Mon 8 June (closes 8 June) · Free–$80+Last chance for RISING's final burst: Day Tripper at Melbourne Town Hall on Saturday, free Fed Square activation, Bass Lounge under Chinatown on Friday night.
  • Linden Postcard Show 2026 — Opening WeekendOpens Sat 6 June, runs to 1 Aug · Free1,000 postcard-sized works by artists of every stripe open at Linden New Art on Acland Street — now in its 36th year and free to walk in.
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  • Queen Vic Winter Night MarketThu 4 June (and every Wed to 26 Aug) · Free entryFire pits, global street food, live entertainment and late-night shopping back in the Queen Vic sheds every Wednesday from 5–10pm.
  • RISING Day TripperSat 6 June, Melbourne Town Hall & Max Watt's · TicketedEight hours of non-stop music and movement — Kae Tempest, Saul Williams, The Congos and more across multiple rooms in one epic festival-within-a-festival.
  • EMERGENCE[Y] — Science Gallery MelbourneOpens Sat 6 June, runs to 5 Dec · FreeA thought-provoking new exhibition bringing together artists, researchers and designers to examine how humanity might adapt to a rapidly changing planet.
A crowd walking towards the MCG on game day

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Game on

  • Hawthorn v Western BulldogsFri 5 June, 7:40pm · From ~$30Friday night footy at the MCG — a resurgent Bulldogs side tests Hawthorn under lights in what shapes as a finals-implications clash midway through the season.
  • Essendon v CarltonSun 7 June, 7:20pm · From ~$30King's Birthday Eve blockbuster at the MCG — the Blues are flying under interim coach Josh Fraser and a win here keeps their wildcard charge alive.
  • Collingwood v Melbourne — Big Freeze 12Mon 8 June (King's Birthday), 3:15pm · From ~$30The most emotionally loaded game on the AFL calendar — the Big Freeze at the MCG carries extra weight this year following the passing of Neale Daniher.
Candlelit pasta in a cosy bistro

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If you're eating out

A quiet week for deals and openings. Tell me the area and what you feel like, and I will find you something worth the trip.

A family strolling through the Royal Botanic Gardens

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If you're spending nothing

  • RISING Free Public Program — Final DaysFreeFree projections on Hamer Hall, Art Trams, Flower Power yam daisies in City Square, and the ahm Oracle at Arts Centre forecourt — all free until RISING closes Monday 8 June.
  • Future Country: NGV First Nations CommissionsFreeFree at the Ian Potter Centre (Fed Square) — eight new commissions spanning weaving, photography, possum-skin-cloak making and sculpture by emerging First Nations artists, open daily 10am–5pm.
  • Linden Postcard Show — Opening WeekendFreeFree entry from Sat 6 June at Linden New Art, 26 Acland Street, St Kilda — 1,000 new works by 1,000 artists, all postcard-sized and all for sale.

Where I'd eat this week

Book something good.

Queen Vic Winter Night Market — Street Food. Wednesday nights from 5–10pm: lobster chowder bread bowls from Soup Factory, Berlin-style doner from Oh My Doner, and hot jam doughnuts from American Doughnut Kitchen.

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